The Villages - May 2018 - 35

Tenacious Tina
Tina ahearn,
all-around Friend

The Adventures of Tenacious Tina - it could be the
title of a book, the story of one humble hero in The Villages
many neighbors are eager to talk about. They share tales
of their experiences with the woman they have deemed the
neighborhood powerhouse: Tina Ahearn. Ahearn moved
from St. Louis to the Mount Pleasant Villas neighborhood
with her husband, John, in 2011.
"We were tired of the cold, snowy weather and had
always dreamed of being in Florida," she said. "Our kids
were not going to return to the Midwest, so we decided to
move."
A registered nurse for nearly four decades, Ahearn said
she had every intention to continue working after moving to
the Sunshine State.
"But after experiencing all the fun The Villages had to
offer, I didn't want to work anymore," she said.
She officially retired from nursing in 2014, but she never
stopped taking care of people. After a widowed neighbor had
knee surgery, Ahearn enlisted a volunteer staff of neighbors
to step in and provide assistance.
"She made sure I had 24-hour care for three days,"
Juanita Bowen said. "Neighbors took shifts, but she herself
spent so much of her time helping me and making sure I
was well cared for. She is a wonderful friend and nurse."
Neighbor Natalie Warner got to know Ahearn shortly
after moving to her villa three years ago. A former attorney,
Warner found The Villages after searching for a place to get
connected.
"I was bored," she said. "I was retired but my friends
were not, so I sat there twiddling my thumbs. Then I started
looking around for things to do."
Warner wound up in Sun City, a popular retirement
development in Las Vegas.
"It's No. 4 in the nation," she said. "But I still didn't find
much to do there."
Warner read about The Villages and thought it might be
too good to be true.

Tina Ahearn and Natalie Warner.

"When I experienced it for myself, I realized there's no
place like The Villages," she said.
Tina Ahearn has a great deal to do with the many
positive experiences Warner had as a newcomer.
"She was the go-to for anything I needed," Warner said.
"Everyone knew her and anytime I had a question about
anything, they'd say, 'Ask Tina.' She welcomed me and
helped me. It's just what she does."
"She gets neighbors together for beach trips, Top Golf
excursions and so much more," neighbor Donna Thompson
said.
A Jill of all trades, Ahearn seems to have as many skills
and talents as she does friends.

" s H e m a d e s u r e i H a d 2 4 - H o u r c a r e F o r T H r e e d ay s .
neigHbors Took sHiFTs, buT sHe HerselF spenT so mucH oF
H e r T i m e H e l p i n g m e a n d m a k i n g s u r e i wa s w e l l c a r e d F o r . "
- Juanita Bowen

MAGAZINE

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - May 2018